Adoption Requirements

Adoptions are strictly limited to a 4 hour radius of our location, as determined by GPS address to address.

Fencing

Gentle Giants accepts the following types of fencing:

Board and post

No Climb or Stock Wire

Electro-Braid or Poly Rope

Corral Panel

Split Rail

Vinyl or PVC Fencing

Coated Wire

High Tensile

Electric Tape (minimum of 3 strands)

Fencing must be a minimum height of 4.5 feet. All fencing is expected to be in good repair, well maintained, and free of fallen debris or overgrowth. Wire fencing is expected to be tight and without sagging.

Gentle Giants does NOT accept:

Cattle Grates or Cattle Guards of any kind in areas accessible to horses

Barb Wire

Chain Link

Plastic Construction or Snow Fence

Step-In Posts as primary or perimeter fencing

T-Posts as primary or perimeter fencing

For example, it would be acceptable to use Step-In or T-Posts as temporary fencing, a fence patch, or to create rotational grazing within a larger paddock. We do not accept either Step-In posts or T-Posts as permanent perimeter fencing.

Shelter

Gentle Giants accepts field board with access to a run in shed, as well as access to a stall to both be forms of adequate shelter. Gentle Giants does not accept trees or other natural windbreaks to be shelter.

Run-In Sheds: Must be of adequate size for the number of horses present, based on a measurement of 6x6 per horse. Run-Ins must be three sided with a roof, and must have solid and reasonably clean footing.

Stalls: Minimum acceptable stall size is 10x10, with 12x12 or larger being strongly preferable. Horses are expected to have a minimum of 12 hours turn out daily except in the most extreme of weather conditions

Pasture

Minimum requirement of 1 fenced acre per horse. Acreage must meet local zoning regulations for housing horses, which may exceed Gentle Giants requirements. In such situations, local zoning takes precedence over Gentle Giants requirements. The exception to this requirement is the horse that requires a dry lot for insulin resistance.

Water

Gentle Giants requires that horses have access to clean, fresh water in pastures and when stalled. Water needs to be provided in a trough or tub, with the ability to prevent freezing in winter weather. Natural water sources such as ponds, creeks, and streams are not accepted as a primary water source, but may be available as secondary water sources. We highly encourage the fencing off of bodies of water where deep mud can accumulate on banks or shores.

Companionship

Gentle Giants requires that at least one other equine (horse, mule, pony, miniature horse, or donkey) be present as a companion for any adopted horse. Goats, sheep, and other farm animals are not considered adequate companions. Horses must minimally be able to socialize over a fence line.

All companion horses/mules/donkeys are expected to be in good health, of a body condition score of 4 or better, be current on legally required vaccines and Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins) testing, and have adequately maintained hoof care.